Golf accessories

ABSTRACT

The invention provides a golf accessory ( 60 ) having a body ( 62 ) which provides a towel holder ( 22 ) to hold a damp towel or cloth ( 24 ) for use in the cleaning of a golf ball or golf club. The accessory ( 60 ) also provides at least one accessory holder connected to the body for holding a golf accessory selected from the group comprising: a ball marker ( 40 ), a ball mark repair tool ( 34 ) and a glove ( 44 ). Preferably, the accessory ( 60 ) therefore includes a ball marker holder ( 38 ), a ball mark repair tool holder ( 32 ), and a glove holder ( 42 ).

The invention provides a golf accessory which includes:

-   -   a body which provides a towel holder to hold a damp towel or         cloth for use in the cleaning of a golf ball or golf club, the         towel holder defining a holding compartment;     -   at least one accessory holder connected to the body for holding         a golf accessory selected from the group comprising: a ball         marker, a ball mark repair tool, also known as a pitch mark         repairer, and a glove; and     -   an attachment formation connected to the towel holder for         attaching the towel holder to the clothing or person of a         golfer.

The holding compartment is preferably bordered by interior walls which are liquid impermeable. The towel holder may have walls of a flexible sheet-like material, the walls being connected together to define the holding compartment between them.

In a particular embodiment of the invention, the towel holder is formed by two walls which are more or less parallel and are arranged face-to-face, the walls being connected together along a common side edge for hinged displacement relative to each other about that side edge. The two walls of the towel holder may form part of a single sheet of material which has been folded over along the common side edge.

The holding compartment will in such case have a mouth or access opening opposite the side edge along which the walls of the towel holder meet. The sheet of material from which the towel holder is formed is preferably rectangular, the fold which separates the respective walls of the towel holder extending transversely to the lengthwise direction of the sheet and preferably being positioned more or less centrally on the sheet, so that the respective side walls of the towel holder is rectangular and their outlines are in register. Preferably, the accessory includes at least one gusset which extends between registering end edges of the towel holder's walls, to limit hinged movement of the walls away from each other. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, one such gusset is provided at each end of the towel holder. Each gusset is preferably in the form of a strip of sheet material, typically leather, which extends transversely between the associated end edges of the towel holder's walls.

The interior of the holding compartment may be lined by a sheet of liquid impermeable material, such as a raincoat textile.

The accessory may include a closure arrangement for openably closing an access opening leading into the holding compartment. The closure arrangement may comprise a sliding clasp fastener, i.e. a zip, or the like mounted on a mouth or access opening leading into the holding compartment. Instead, the closure arrangement may include a flap with a press stud or a Velcro fastener. The closure arrangement and the holding compartment may optionally be configured such that the holding compartment can be closed off sealingly.

The holding compartment may be shaped and dimensioned to hold a hand towel or cloth suitable for cleaning a golf ball club, for the holding compartment typically having a capacity of 90-180 cm³, preferably 120-150 cm³.

The attachment formation may be configured for releasable connection to a golfer's clothing. The attachment formation is preferably arranged on the body such that, when the towel holder is connected to a golfer's clothing, in use, an access opening of the holding compartment faces upwards.

In one embodiment of the invention, the attachment formation is in the form of a clip fast with the body. In other embodiments of the invention, the attachment formation may be provided by a loop on the exterior of the towel holder for receiving a belt tied around the golfer's waste, the belt being threaded through the loop, in use. Instead, one end of the loop may be releasably fastenable, for instance by a Velcro connection, to permit passing of the loop over a belt before the loop is closed and fastened.

The accessory preferably includes a ball marker holder for holding a marker used to indicate the position of a golf ball on a green. The marker is typically in the form of a flat disk for placement on the green while a golf ball is picked up for cleaning.

The ball marker holder may be configured for quick release and reconnection of the marker, to enable a golfer to remove and replace the marker from the accessory one-handed. In a preferred embodiment, at least part of the marker is of a ferromagnetic metal, the ball marker holder being in the form of a magnet mounted on an exterior of the towel holder for magnetic attachment of the marker thereto.

The accessory preferably also includes a ball mark repair tool holder for removably and replaceably holding a ball mark repair tool used by golfers to repair or marks or which marks on a green. The ball mark repair tool holder may comprise an operatively upwardly open pocket, pouch, or sleeve on the exterior of the towel holder for receiving the ball mark repair tool, insertion and the extraction of the ball mark repair tool typically being by sliding of the tool into and out of the pocket holster-fashion.

The ball mark repair tool holder may additionally include a magnetic securing member for securing the ball mark repair tool in the associated holder, to prevent inadvertent dislodgement of the repair tool from its holder. Preferably, the magnetic securing member is in the form of a magnet fast with the body of the accessory and positioned in front of an entrance to the pocket. In use, prongs of the repair tool are located in the pocket, with a head of the tool projecting upwardly out of the pocket and resting against the magnet, so that the head of the tool is secured to the accessory by the magnet.

The accessory may also include a glove holder for releasably and replaceably holding a golfer's glove. The glove holder is preferably configured for quick release and reconnection of a golf glove, typically comprising a patch of hook and loop fastening material, typically Velcro, for co-operation with a complementary patch of such material on a glove.

The body of the accessory may have two opposite exterior surfaces, an inner one of the exterior surfaces being positioned against a golfer's body, in use, and an outer one of the exterior surfaces facing away from the golfer's body, the accessory having a ball marker holder, a ball mark repair tool holder, and a glove holder positioned on the outer exterior surface. It will be appreciated that the ball marker, of the ball mark repair tool, and/or the glove may optionally being sold with the accessory as a kit, therefore forming part of the accessory.

The ball marker holder, the ball mark repair tool holder, and the glove holder may advantageously be positioned adjacent each other on the exterior of the body, preferably being located within a hand's width of each other.

In a particular embodiment of the invention, the towel holder is in the form of a moon bag-size bag or receptacle, the towel holder having an outer wall of flexible material, with the pitch mark repairer holder, the marker holder and the glove holder being positioned adjacent one another on the outer wall of the towel holder, to face away from a golfer's body in use.

The invention will now be further described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying diagrammatic drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a schematic three-dimensional view of a golf accessory in accordance with the invention, the accessory holding a damp cloth, a pitch mark repairer, a golf ball marker and a golf glove;

FIG. 2 is a view corresponding to FIG. 1, the cloth, pitch mark repairer, golf ball marker and golf glove being removed from the accessory; and

FIG. 3 is a schematic three-dimensional view on an enlarged scale of a golfer wearing the accessory, in use.

In the drawings, reference numeral 10 generally indicates a golf accessory in accordance with the invention. The accessory 10 has a body 12 having an attachment means or attachment formation for attaching the body 12 to a golfer's outfit. In this example, the attachment formation is in the form of a clip 14 for clipping onto a belt 16 (FIG. 3) around the waist of a golfer 18. It will be appreciated that the attachment means can, in other embodiments of the invention, be constructed differently, for instance being in the form of a loop through which the belt 16 is threaded.

The body 12 is of a flexible textile material which forms a bag 20 which is roughly similar in size and in construction to a so-called moon bag, the bag 20 defining an openably closable holding compartment 22. The bag 20 thus provides a towel holder for holding a small damp towel or cloth 24 which can be used for cleaning a golf ball during play. The internal walls of the holding compartment 22 are lined with a liner 26 of liquid impermeable material, to inhibit drying out of the cloth 24, in use, and to isolate dampness in the holding compartment 22.

An openable closure arrangement is provided on a mouth 28 of the holding compartment 22, the closure arrangement in this example being in the form of a sliding clasp fastener or zip 30.

The accessory 10 further includes a ball mark repair tool holder 32 for removably holding a pitch mark repairer or ball mark repair tool 34. In this example, the tool holder 32 is in the form of a pocket or sleeve 35 on an outer wall 36 of the bag 20, the pocket 35 being shaped for sliding reception and removal of the repair tool 34, holster-fashion.

A marker holder 38 is positioned adjacent the pocket 35 on the outer wall 36 of the bag 20 for holding a golf ball marker 40. In this example, the marker 40 is in the form of a coin-sized steel disc, the marker holder 38 being a magnetic pad or a magnet to which the marker 40 is magnetically connectable.

The accessory 10 yet further includes a glove holder 42 for holding a golf glove 44 (see FIG. 3). The glove holder 42 comprises a patch of hook-and-loop fastening material, i.e. VELCRO, for co-operation with a complementary VELCRO fastener on the golf glove 44. It will be appreciated that golf gloves 44 typically have a fastening strap 48 which includes a strip of VELCRO to fasten the glove 44 around a user's wrist. The glove holder 42 of the accessory 10 employs the same strap 48 for removably connecting the glove 44 to the accessory 10.

In use, the accessory 10 serves to hold a pitch mark repairer 34, a damp cloth 24, a golfing glove 44 and a golf ball marker 40 such that these articles are readily accessible to the golfer 18 while on the green.

Before starting a round of golf, the cloth 24 is dampened, and is then put in the bag 20 which is sealingly closed by operation of the zip 30. The walls of the bag 20 are lined with a liquid impermeable liner 26, so that the cloth 24 remains damp for the duration of the round.

During play off the tee, on the fairway, or in the rough, the cloth 24 is held in the bag 20, the ball mark repair tool 34 is carried in the pocket 35, and the ball marker 40 is held by the marker holder 38. Because the bag 20 is attached to the clothing of the golfer 18 such that it is located at waist level and is positioned at the back of the golfer 18, it is conveniently out of the way and thus does not affect normal play.

If the golfer has played a shot out of the rough, away from his carry cart, he can quickly clean the club with the towel 24. Further, upon arrival on the green, the user may remove his or her glove 44 and attach it to the accessory 10 by pressing the strap 48 into contact with the VELCRO patch 42, so that the glove 44 is held by the accessory 10.

If a pitch mark has been made in approach play, the golfer 18 removes the repair tool 34 from the pocket 35 to repair the pitch mark, after which the repair tool 34 is returned to the pocket 35.

The marker 40 is then removed from the marker holder 38, and is used to mark the position of the golf ball on the green. Thereafter, the cloth 24 is removed by opening the zip 30 and taking the cloth 24 from the bag 20 for cleaning of the golf ball. When the golf ball has been cleaned, the cloth 24 is returned to the bag 20 and the mouth 28 of the bag 20 is zipped shut.

After re-placing the golf ball, the marker 40 is picked up and returned to the marker holder 38.

In FIGS. 4 and 5, reference 60 generally indicated a further embodiment of a golf accessory in accordance with the invention. Like reference numerals indicate like parts in FIGS. 1-3 and in FIGS. 4-5, unless otherwise indicated.

The accessory 60 is largely similar to the accessory 10 of FIGS. 1-3, with a major difference being that the construction of the body 62 of the accessory 60 is different to that of the accessory 10. In particular, the body 62 comprises a single rectangular sheet of layered material which has been folded along a fold line which extends transversely to the length of the rectangular sheet, to form two walls or halves 64, 66 which are more or less parallel to each other and are arranged face-to-face. The two halves 64, 66 are thus hingedly displaceable relative to each other about the fold line, which forms a common side edge 68.

The holding compartment 22 is therefore defined between the opposite interior faces of the respective halves 64, 66, with the mouth 28 of the holding compartment 22 being positioned opposite the common side edge 68. In other words, the halves 64, 66 form the walls of the holding compartment 22. The layered sheet of which the body 62 is formed comprises an outer layer of leather and an inner layer of a water impermeable textile, so that the interior surfaces of the holding compartment 22 are lined with the textile.

One of the halves 64 bears the attachment formation in the form of a clip 14 and, in use, is positioned against a user's body. The other half 66 faces away from the user and carries the ball mark repair tool holder 32, the ball marker holder 38, and the glove holder 42. In this example of the invention, the dimensions of each half 64, 66 is about the 11 cm by 6 cm, while the maximum transverse spacing between the halves 64, 66 is between 2 to 3 cm. The capacity of the holding compartment 22 is thus about 135 cm³.

The body 62 further includes a pair of gussets 70 at opposite ends of the halves 64, 66, to close off open ends of the holding compartment partially, and to limit hinged displacement of the outer wall 66 away from the inner wall 64. The halves 64, 66 can be fastened together in a closed condition (see FIG. 4) by a press stud and complementary socket 72 positioned on the opposing inner faces of the respective halves 64, 66 at an operatively upper side edge of the body 62.

A further feature of the accessory 60 of FIG. 5 is that the ball mark repair tool holder 32 includes a securing member in the form of a magnet 74 fast with the body 62 of the accessory 60 above the pocket or sleeve 35 of the holder 32. The magnet 74 is spaced from the mouth or entrance to the pocket 35 such that when prongs of the tool 34 are received in the pocket 35, a head of the tool 34 arrests against the magnet 74. At least the head of the tool 34 is of a ferromagnetic metal, such as a steel alloy, so that the tool 34 is magnetically secured in position in the holder 32. This magnetic connection prevents inadvertent dislodgement and loss of the tool 34.

It is an advantage of a golf accessory 10 as described with reference to the invention that it stores a plurality devices which are required by a golfer 18 on the green in a readily accessible and convenient fashion. It will be appreciated that the accessory 10 is specifically designed to facilitate one-handed removal and replacement of the glove 44, the pitch mark repairer 34, the marker 40, and the cloth 24. This accessibility permits the golfer 18 to line up a putt and to keep the line while repairing pitch marks and cleaning the golf ball.

Importantly, the Applicant believes that use of the accessory 10 will provide amateur golfers with additional time to judge putts, as less time will be wasted walking to and from a golf cart at which a wet towel is held for cleaning the ball and golf club. 

1-23. (canceled)
 24. A golf accessory comprising: a body which provides a towel holder adapted to hold a towel or cloth, said towel holder defining a holding compartment; at least one accessory holder connected to said body for holding a golf accessory selected from the group consisting of a ball marker, a ball mark repair tool, and a glove; and an attachment formation connected to said towel holder for releasably attaching said towel holder to the clothing or person of a golfer.
 25. The golf accessory as set forth in claim 24, wherein said holding compartment is bordered by interior walls which are liquid impermeable.
 26. The golf accessory as set forth in claim 24, wherein said body having walls of a flexible sheet-like material, said walls being connected together to define said holding compartment therebetween.
 27. The golf accessory as set forth in claim 26, wherein said walls being two walls which are substantially parallel and are arranged face-to-face, said walls being connected together along a common side edge for hinged displacement relative to each other about that side edge.
 28. The golf accessory as set forth in claim 27, wherein said two walls form part of a single sheet of material which has been folded over along the common side edge.
 29. The golf accessory as set forth in claim 28, further comprising at least one gusset extending between registering end edges of said walls, to limit hinged movement of said walls away from each other.
 30. The golf accessory as set forth in claim 29, wherein an interior of said holding compartment is lined by a sheet of liquid impermeable material.
 31. The golf accessory as set forth in claim 24 further comprising a closure arrangement for openably closing an access opening leading into said holding compartment.
 32. The golf accessory as set forth in claim 24, wherein said holding compartment has a capacity of about 90-180 cm³.
 33. The golf accessory as set forth in claim 24, wherein said holding compartment has a capacity of 120-150 cm³.
 34. The golf accessory as set forth in claim 24, wherein said attachment formation is arranged on said body such that, when said towel holder is connected to a golfer's clothing, in use, an access opening of said holding compartment faces upwards.
 35. The golf accessory as set forth in claim 34, wherein said attachment formation is a clip fast with said body.
 36. The golf accessory as set forth in claim 24 further comprising a ball marker holder for holding a marker used to indicate the position of a golf ball on a green, wherein at least part of said marker is of a ferromagnetic metal, said ball marker holder being in the form of a magnet mounted on an exterior of said towel holder for magnetic attachment of said marker thereto, and wherein said marker being attachable to said ball mark repair tool by means of a magnet.
 37. The golf accessory as set forth in claim 36 further comprising a ball mark repair tool holder for removably and replaceably holding a ball mark repair tool, wherein said ball mark repair tool holder comprises an operatively upwardly open pocket on said exterior of the towel holder for receiving said ball mark repair tool, and wherein at least the head of said ball mark repair tool is of ferromagnetic metal, so that said ball mark repair tool is magnetically secured in position in said ball mark repair tool holder for producing a magnetic connection which prevents inadvertent dislodgement and loss of said ball mark repair tool.
 38. The golf accessory as set forth in claim 37 further comprising a glove holder for releasably and replaceably holding a glove, wherein said glove holder comprises a patch of hook and loop fastening material for co-operation with a complementary patch of such material on said glove.
 39. The golf accessory as set forth in claim 24, wherein said body has two opposite exterior surfaces, an inner one of said exterior surfaces being positioned against a golfer's body, in use, and an outer one of said exterior surfaces facing away from the golfer's body, said golf accessory having a ball marker holder, a ball mark repair tool holder, and a glove holder positioned on said outer exterior surface.
 40. The golf accessory as set forth in claim 39, wherein said ball marker holder, said ball mark repair tool holder, and said glove holder are positioned adjacent each other on said exterior of the body.
 41. A golf accessory comprising: a body which provides a towel holder adapted to hold a towel or cloth, said towel holder defining a holding compartment bordered by interior walls which are liquid impermeable, said body having two walls of a flexible sheet-like material connected together to define said holding compartment therebetween, said walls being substantially parallel and arranged face-to-face and connected together along a common side edge for hinged displacement relative to each other about that side edge; a closure arrangement for openably closing an access opening leading into said holding compartment; an attachment formation connected to said towel holder for releasably attaching said towel holder to the clothing or person of a golfer; a ball marker holder for holding a marker used to indicate the position of a golf ball on a green, wherein at least part of said marker is of a ferromagnetic metal, said ball marker holder being in the form of a magnet mounted on an exterior of said towel holder for magnetic attachment of said marker thereto; a ball mark repair tool holder for removably and replaceably holding a ball mark repair tool, wherein said ball mark repair tool holder comprises an operatively upwardly open pocket on said exterior of the towel holder for receiving said ball mark repair tool; and a glove holder for releasably and replaceably holding a glove, wherein said glove holder comprises a patch of hook and loop fastening material for co-operation with a complementary patch of such material on said glove.
 42. The golf accessory as set forth in claim 41 further comprising at least one gusset extending between registering end edges of said walls, to limit hinged movement of said walls away from each other.
 41. A golf accessory comprising: a body which provides a towel holder adapted to hold a towel or cloth, said towel holder defining a holding compartment bordered by interior walls which are liquid impermeable, said body having two walls of a flexible sheet-like material connected together to define said holding compartment therebetween, said walls being substantially parallel and arranged face-to-face and connected together along a common side edge for hinged displacement relative to each other about that side edge; a closure arrangement for openably closing an access opening leading into said holding compartment; an attachment formation connected to said towel holder for releasably attaching said towel holder to the clothing or person of a golfer; at least one gusset extending between registering end edges of said walls, to limit hinged movement of said walls away from each other. a ball marker holder for holding a marker used to indicate the position of a golf ball on a green, wherein at least part of said marker is of a ferromagnetic metal, said ball marker holder being in the form of a magnet mounted on an exterior of said towel holder for magnetic attachment of said marker thereto; a ball mark repair tool holder for removably and replaceably holding a ball mark repair tool, wherein said ball mark repair tool holder comprises an operatively upwardly open pocket on said exterior of the towel holder for receiving said ball mark repair tool; a glove holder for releasably and replaceably holding a glove, wherein said glove holder comprises a patch of hook and loop fastening material for co-operation with a complementary patch of such material on said glove; wherein an interior of said holding compartment is lined by a sheet of liquid impermeable material. 